Morocco, Ethiopia to accelerate energy access for developing countries
ADDIS ABABA (FBC) – Minister of Waters, Irrigation and Energy Dr. Engineer Sileshi Bekele held a virutual discussion with Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Minerals, and Environment, Aziz Rabbah on ways of strengthening partnership in the field of renewable energy among their respective countries.
The two ministers examined prospects for bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of renewable energies, where several opportunities exist for developing projects of mutual interest between the two nations.
They sought opportunities for both parties to accelerate the implementation of the Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access for the betterment of the power sector.
It is to be recalled that Morocco and Ethiopia formed the coalition during the United Nations Climate Action Summit held in September 2019 in New York City.
The initiative seeks to ensure 100% access to energy in the least developed and other developing countries by 2030.
The two ministers focused mainly on the coalition’s methodology to start performing its activities.
They also reviewed aspects of the governance of the alliance, its organizational structure, budget, and deadlines in the short term for a successful start-up of the coalition’s mission and implementation of its projects.
The Ethiopian Herald May 22/2020
Africa Could Meet 23 Percent of its Energy Needs from Renewable Energy: IRENA
ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-Africa could meet about 23 percent of all its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 amid coronavirus crisis unfolds on the continent, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) disclosed today.
IRENA in its Global Renewable Outlook 2020 report indicated that Sub-Saharan Africa will be one of the regions with highest shares of renewable energy in total primary energy supply in 2030 (43%).
Endowed with immense renewable energy resources, Africa has already embarked on a transformative energy pathway, the report noted.
The report added that accelerating progress in this regard can alleviate immediate energy challenges, while creating jobs, advancing industrial development and promoting human welfare.
Energy transformation in Africa would result in multiple socio-economic benefits and renewable energy deployment could result in up to 2 million more green jobs created in sub-Saharan Africa, it stated.
The global outlook further noted that renewable-based energy system expected to yield a positive impact in the GDP gains in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is attributable to a strong increase in net energy exports.
As the health and humanitarian crisis unfolds, the pandemic is multiplying the already-existing risks and vulnerabilities of the African energy sector, the report said.
Fragile energy security situation will severely impede many African nations’ ability to cope with the health crisis and economic downturn.
Moreover, access to modern energy services remains a major challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa, with around 548 million people still having no access to power and 894 million lacking access to modern clean cooking solutions.
The immediate priority for the African continent remains to save lives, bring the health emergency under control and alleviate associated economic hardship.
The report, however, underscores the recovery measures adopted in the face of COVID-19 must also address long-term development deficits and create resilient economies and societies, with a central role for locally available renewable energy resources.
Against this backdrop, the African Union (AU) and IRENA are organizing a virtual ministerial dialogue to consider actions needed to advance a transformation of the energy systems in Africa.
The meeting will be organized with a view to improving the continent’s resilience and stimulating economic recovery and sustainable growth in the post-pandemic period.
It will offer a platform for African governments and development partners to reflect on effective means for reinforcing action towards accelerating the ongoing energy transformation in Africa, in light of Africa’s Agenda 2063 goals and alignment of the pandemic response.
(Source ENA)
South Sudan clashes ‘kill 300’ in Jonglei state
At least 300 people have been killed in a fresh wave of intercommunal fighting in South Sudan, authorities say.
Dozens of homes in Jonglei state were destroyed, warehouses belonging to aid groups were raided, and women and cattle were abducted.
Three aid workers were among those killed.
A treaty aimed at ending the country’s six-year civil war was signed in February, but intercommunal violence has erupted a number of times since.
Some 800 people are believed to have died in such clashes since February.
The latest outbreak of violence between pastoralists, who rely on livestock, and farm workers began on Saturday in the north-eastern town of Pieri, forcing thousands of people to flee to the bush, the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza reports.
Health workers says many of the victims have gunshot wounds. Some of the injured have been airlifted to the capital, Juba, for treatment.
One of the aid workers killed was from Médecins Sans Frontières.
Peacekeepers were interviewing survivors in the town when fighting broke out, the UN mission said in a statement.
David Shearer, the UN’s special representative for South Sudan, said that the violence between the two groups must stop.
“While politically motivated conflict has reduced in South Sudan, intercommunal fighting has increased, causing massive suffering for families who are trying to rebuild their lives after the devastation caused by years of civil war,” he said.
About 380,000 people were killed in South Sudan’s civil war.
A peace agreement was reached in February by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, who formed a government of national unity.
But outbreaks of inter-ethnic fighting have continued, threatening the fragile treaty.
Security agencies have said they have recovered hundreds of illegal firearms – including rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades – from the warring communities.
The Ethiopian Herald May 22/2020
Tracking Africa’s coronavirus cases
Source: FBC
Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many nations could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe COVID-19 outbreak.
More than two months after Egypt became the first country in Africa to confirm a coronavirus case, the outbreak has reached every nation on the continent of 1.2 billion people.
According to Aljazeera, as of May 21, the confirmed coronavirus death toll on the continent stood at 2,997, with fatalities including the former President of the Republic of the Congo Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango and Somalia’s former Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein.
There are 95,201 confirmed infections and 38,075 recoveries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many African countries could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
Source: Aljazeera
The Ethiopian Herald May 22/2020
